Tagged: Ryan Tucker

MIAMI — The Jamestown Jammers, short-season A ball affiliate of the Marlins, saw their quest for a New York-Penn League title come to an end on Sunday, when the Batavia Muckdogs (pictured) defeated them, 9-3, to sweep the best-of-three championship series and win it all.

Going into the series, the Jammers had won seven in a row — outscoring their opponents by a combined 61-24. But in Game 1 on Friday, Jamestown saw Jermaine Curtis hit a two-run homer with two outs in the top of the ninth to put Batavia up by one in the top of the ninth. In the bottom half, the Jammers had the tying run in scoring position with one out, but Brandon Turner struck out, and Justin Bass grounded out to end it.

After Saturday’s game was postponed, Sunday’s affair was never even close. The Muckdogs jumped out to a 4-0 lead, with all of those runs coming in the bottom of the third, and, after the Jammers made it a one-run game, Batavia had a five-run eighth inning to pull away.

New Marlins

While no Jammers are expected to be called up to the Marlins, four Mudcats were officially brought to the big club on Monday. Cameron Maybin, Ryan Tucker, Gaby Sanchez and Jesus Delgado will sport teal for the rest of this season. Because Sanchez isn’t on the 40-man roster, his contract had to be selected, and the Marlins will have to make a corresponding roster move on Tuesday. Read the full story here.

Up 2-1 against the Mississippi Braves, Double-A Carolina dropped the final two games of the series in extra innings to come up short in the Southern League Finals.

MIAMI — The Carolina Mudcats were so close.

But, in the end, the only thing they were close to was the celebration by the Mississippi Braves players near the mound at Trustmark Park (pictured), as they beat the Marlins’ Doube-A affiliate, 3-2, in 10 innings during the Southern League Finals.

Back in Game 4, when they were up 2-1 in the series, the Mudcats had a chance to seal the deal in the 11th inning before surrendering a home run tie it up. Two innings later, they lost on a walkoff single.

Entering the ninth inning of the deciding game, Carolina was down, 2-1, before a leadoff homer by Scott Cousins off Southern League Pitcher of the Year Todd Redmond tied it up. But after a couple of singles in the 10th inning by the Braves, Chris Mobley checked into the game and threw a wild pitch, allowing J.C. Holt to score the winning run.

But hey, here’s one thing to look forward to: Now that the Mudcats’ season is over, there’s a good chance you can see center field prospect Cameron Maybin pretty soon. Gaby Sanchez, the Southern League MVP this year, isn’t as likely of an addition, considering he’d have to be added to the 40-man roster first, and there wouldn’t be much of an opportunity for him to play with the Marlins. Ryan Tucker could also be added.

Jammers update

The Marlins’ short-season, Single-A affiliate, the Jamestown Jammers, lost the first game of the New York-Penn League Finals to the Batavia Muckdogs, 4-3. Down a run in the bottom of the ninth, the Jammers had the tying run in scoring position with one out, but Brandon Tucker struck out, and Justin Bass grounded out to end it.

The second of the best-of-three series on Saturday was postponed due to rain and will be played Sunday at 6:05 p.m. ET.

MIAMI — With the end of August on the horizon, and the day Major League rosters can expand on Sept. 1 coming up, let’s take a look at how some of the players who could help the Marlins make a postseason run are faring in the Minor Leagues:

Triple-A Albuquerque

Robert Andino – Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez always expresses wishing he would’ve had a chance to use Andino’s versatility more when he was with the club, but his bench was just too deep for the 24-year-old to get much playing time. In his limited time, this is what we know about Andino: He’s fast and a very smart baserunner, is a streaky hitter that can hit for power and a good defensive infielder — who played emergency outfield on occasion.

Andino was optioned to the Isotopes on July 31 to make room for veteran closer Arthur Rhodes. On Sunday, Andino hit a walk-off homer for Albuquerque. In his last 10 games, he is batting .391 (18-for-46) with three home runs and 12 RBIs.

Dallas McPherson – The power-hitting third baseman has turned a lot of heads this season, and a lot of people feel like he could be a starter with the Marlins right now. McPherson has a good chance to be with the team after Sept. 1, but one problem with him is he pretty much fits the bill in terms of the rest of the Marlins players — he strikes out a lot (150 times this season with just 70 walks) and hits a ton of home runs (a Pacific Coast League-leading 40).

On the year, he also sports a .279 batting average with 91 RBIs.

One more thing, he is not a prospect. McPherson is 28 years old and played three seasons with the Angles. Regardless, after missing all of 2007 because of back surgery, it’s been a great comeback for the 6-foot-4 left-handed hitter.

Taylor Tankersley – “The Tank,” as some of his teammates with the Marlins call him, can be a very useful tool out of the Marlins’ bullpen if called back up, especially with the way current lefty reliever Renyel Pinto has struggled — sporting a 27.21 ERA since July 29.

Tankersley started off the year on a bad note, but he said he became a “tougher” pitcher when sent down to Triple-A and has sported some good numbers in the Minor Leagues this year, going 2-1 with a 1.71 ERA in 29 games.

Paul Hoover – I can’t see the Marlins adding a fourth catcher this year, but Hoover has been up and down with the club all year, and Gonzalez has said he does a very good job handling the pitching staff. In his last 10 games with the Isotopes, Hoover is batting .294 with two home runs and three RBIs.

Rick VandenHurk – The righty starter struggled mightily at the beginning of the year with the Marlins, came back, had one very good start, then reverted back to his old ways before getting sent back down for Anibal Sanchez. Still, VandenHurk is a guy who can give the Marlins some spot starts if he’s back with the team.

He is 2-1 with a 4.08 ERA in his last four starts in Albuquerque.

Double-A Carolina

Cameron Maybin – The speedy centerfielder is very young, but also very promising, and the Marlins are likely to want to take a closer look at him in September. This year, Maybin has been up-and-down offensively and has struck out a ton — pretty much the M.O. on the Marlins.

On the year, he’s hitting .276 with 13 home runs and 43 RBIs. Maybin suffered a shoulder injury earlier this month, but vice president of player development Rick Fleming said a few weeks back that he has recovered fully.

Gaby Sanchez – Not sure if Sanchez would get called up to the Marlins, but it sure would be tough to keep the corner infield from the big club. The former University of Miami star has been on a tear this year, batting .327 with 17 home runs and 84 RBIs. In July, he earned Topps Player of the Month.

And check this out: He’s walked three more times than he’s struck out (65-62).

Ryan Tucker– Tucker started off the season as a starter, but struggles there prompted him to the bullpen with the Marlins, and he has continued that in the Minor Leagues.

Lately, Tucker has been throwing just one inning of relief at a time and has been used as a middle reliever — most recently as the eighth-inning guy. In his last five games, all of them one-inning stint, the 6-foot-2 righty has thrown five shutout innings and has given up just one hit.

Injured Marlins

* Catcher Mike Rabelo (right wrist) is pretty much done for the season, and Gonzalez said he’d probably play Winter Ball.

* Andrew Miller (right patella tendinitis) threw six shutout innings on an 80- to 85-pitch limit for Class A Jupiter on Thursday and would be scheduled to make his next rehab start on Tuesday. Gonzalez said he could pitch for Double-A Carolina. “We just want him to feel comfortable,” the Marlins’ skipper said.

* Doug Waechter (right shoulder inflammation) has been throwing bullpen sessions with no strain on his injury and said he’d be in Jupiter, Fla., throwing some more while the Marlins are on the road. He’s eligible to come off the disabled list on Friday.

2008 Draft picks

The Draft signing deadline was midnight ET on Saturday, and the Marlins succesfully came to terms with their first nine picks. Here’s a look at how they’ve done in the rookie Gulf Coast League this summer:

Here’s a look at what’s shakin’ in the Marlins’ farm system. Look for an update from me on this subject at least once a week.

Triple-A Albuquerque

McPherson keeps lighting it up

Everyone knows the Marlins hit a lot of home runs, but that feeling seems to be rubbing off in their farm system, too.

On Wednesday night, Dallas McPherson blasted a three-run homer in the top of the ninth to erase a two-run deficit and give the Isotopes the victory. McPherson hit three home runs on Sunday, and he now has 39 dingers — which lead the Pacific Coast League — to go along with a .302 batting average and 86 RBIs in 101 games.

The 28-year-old slugger missed all of last season while recovering from back surgery, and he seems to be making out just fine this season. Now, his focus is on making it to the big club.

“I think everybody just wants to be in the big leagues,” McPherson told MLB.com recently. “I signed with the Marlins to be there with the Marlins, and that’s what I want and am trying to do.”

Double-A Carolina

Tucker remains in bullpen

Looks like the Marlins are convinced in Ryan Tucker being a reliever.

The 21-year-old rookie made six starts before being moved to the bullpen with the Marlins, giving up five runs in 5 1/3 innings as a reliever. And ever since being optioned back to the Mudcats on July 23 for Justin Miller, Tucker has stayed there. In two appearances since going back to the Minor Leagues, Tucker has pitched four innings of relief, giving up no runs and three hits while walking two.

Maybin is back

Center field prospect Cameron Maybin is playing again after straining his left hamstring. The 21-year-old right-handed hitter returned to the lineup on July 28, and in three games back, he is 1-for-6 with two runs scored and three walks. On the year, Maybin is batting .263 with 12 home runs and 38 RBIs in 84 games.

Single-A Jupiter

Allison back pitching

Jeff Allison, the Marlins’ 2003 first-round pick who has battled drug addiction, is back pitching in the Marlins’ organization, going 6-7 with a 4.52 ERA in 20 games — 19 of them starts. Earlier this week, Marlins vice president of player development and scouting Jim Fleming said Allison is on track to be a big league pitcher.

That’s a big statement considering how tough of a road Allison has gone through.

Look for a story on Allison’s tough road back on MLB.com in the near future.

Single-A Greensboro

Dominguez struggling a bit

The Marlins’ third-base prospect, Matt Dominguez, has struggled a bit lately, going 3-for-23 in his last six games. On the year, Dominguez — drafted 12 overall in 2007 — is hitting .278 with eight home runs and 36 RBIs in 61 games.

Players creating buzz: While the Marlins were in pursuit of Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez, several of their prospects were rumored to be involved in a package that would go to the Pirates, along with Jeremy Hermida, while Pittsburgh would send Jason Bay to Boston. They were: Tucker, Allison and Mike Stanton (.274, 27 home runs, 67 RBIs in 99 games).